ROKIA – TCHAMANTCHE
If you know what a n’goni is then perhaps you already know who Rokia Traore is, perhaps you have already heard Tchamantché. If not, prepare to be entranced. Rokia comes from a family of nobles of the Bamana ethic heritage, a heritage with a strong griot tradition. Bamana nobility are discouraged from such pursuits as music, and Makian women when they do pursue such things, accompany themselves on acoustic instruments. Rokia’s instrument of choice is the Gretsch electric guitar. That is not to say the she abandons her roots; Tchamantché is dripping with a long tradition of Mali folk music, her electric guitar blended with kora, n’goni and staggered percussion. Indeed it is the weaving of these elements behind her intimate vocal stylings that gives the album its subtle richness, Kounandi bears perfect witness to this. Just for good measure she closes with a rendition of George Gershwin’s The Man I Love. Forget Nora Jones (please!), Rokia Traore is where it is at.
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(A n’goni is a three or four-stringed lue like instrument native to Mali.)
